Watch out New York and California! Flip Burger Boutique has opened at The Summit and looks and acts like it just arrived from one of those “happening” places. Like its older counterpart in Atlanta, Flip offers a variety of innovative burgers as well as selections from its signature liquid nitrogen milkshake bar.

Imagine dining inside a jukebox (think iPod, younger folk). The decor is sleek and Ikea-like; the music, loud and energetic. The high, colorful semi-abstract ceiling assists in the reverberation of music and conversation.

Large windows provide grand views of the neighborhood. The midday sun through the expanse of glass initially made us feel as if we were front row center at an equinox.

We were quickly seated despite an enthusiastic holiday luncheon crowd visiting the new kid on the block. A long row of tables down the center makes it likely you’ll be seated near strangers. However, you can visit or not as you please. Booths along the side provide a bit more privacy.

We were impressed by the variety of items on the menu. Along with an interesting selection of burgers, beef and otherwise, Brunswick lamb stew and several salads are offered. Flip also features a “burger of today.” On our visit it was a Cuban pork burger with Black Forest ham and Swiss cheese ($7).

Flip’s wine list is brief but comprehensive with suggestions ranging from $7 to $14 by the glass, $24 to $47 by the bottle. Beers, draft and bottled, are available from $3 to $6.

We could not resist ordering a Krispy Kreme milkshake ($5). Thick and creamy, it tasted like a puree of the legendary doughnuts. This was not unusual because it was just that – about 10 percent doughnuts and 90 percent high-end ice cream. With the addition of a slosh of liquid nitrogen for quick cooling and a bit of thickening, this confection was deliciously rich and definitely the stuff New Year’s resolutions are made of. The “cryo-technics” of the nitrogen application are fun to watch. Clouds of fog and vapors are far more foreboding than the actual liquid nitrogen unless one dips a finger in it or spills it in his lap. Though there is a disclaimer on the menu warning not to drink a shake until it has evaporated, the nitrogen is relatively harmless under “restaurant conditions.”

This is the Southern burger with country fried beef patty, pickled onions and green bean salad. (News staff/Beverly Taylor)

Ambience

Ultra-everything surroundings with an interesting variety of burgers; family-friendly with enthusiastic, efficient service.

Flip’s burgers are 5.5 ounces of whatever one orders. A bit of math tells us that this is a little larger than a quarter of a pound but not so large that one runs the risk of dislocating a jaw when attempting to bite it. These are served on fresh, soft bread with an array of toppings and condiments that lend credence to FLIP burger boutique’s claim that they provide “fine dining between two buns.” A lettuce wrap option is available for all burgers.

One in our party opted for lettuce wrap for her farm burger ($10). The organic grass-fed beef patty shared space in a rolled lettuce leaf with lettuce, tomato, grilled Vidalia onion and bread and butter pickles (hereafter and on-the-menu known as b&b).

Two observations, the heirloom tomato actually tasted like a tomato, and the crisp b&b pickles are house-made. A small container of smoked mayonnaise was served on the side. This very open-faced sandwich looked a little messy to some of us, but the diner handled it well without losing a crumb.

A bit more conventional, the bacon and cheese burger ($6.50) was served on a very fresh brioche bun with onion, tomato, lettuce, Benton’s smoked bacon, American cheese and b&b pickles. Flip’s sauce, a slightly spicy ketchup concoction, rounded out a very nice burger. Pink in the middle, it was served a quite acceptable medium.

The wild turkey burger ($6.50) was also very well received. Served with tasty Benton’s bacon, smoked gouda cheese and a tangy cranberry-scallion relish, it was an interesting blend of flavors that worked.

The mushroom and Swiss burger ($7) was regrettable. As a patty, wild mushrooms didn’t hold together. Even the addition of Swiss cheese and red wine ketchup didn’t help. Perhaps black beans or maybe a little tofu could have served as a binding agent. The faux-lafel burger may have been a better vegetarian choice.

Fried sides were, for the most part, interesting. Fried b&b pickles ($2) were served with a mild buttermilk ranch sauce. With a nice subtle flavor that didn’t scream PICKLE, these were a table-wide favorite.

Vodka battered onion rings ($3.50) were also a favorite. Nicely fried and relatively grease-free, the rings maintained their integrity, not separating when nibbled.

Tempura fried okra ($3) was a bit greasier than expected but quite tasty and crisp in spite of the grease.

Tempura sweet potato fries ($3) did not translate as well as the other sides. Extremely greasy, these bore no resemblance to tempura. The flavor was OK, but the texture was unfortunate.

Flip Burger Boutique was interesting and fun. Hip, modern, new age — whatever one calls it, it is cutting edge and current. Our 20-something consultant described the not-so-in-the-background music as sounding like a Vampire Weekend or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah mix. We all would describe the burgers as good, and, with one exception, re-orderable.

We agreed that this is good “first date place” for a burger and a shake. The A5 burger might be impressive at $39. If not, plenty of other excellent choices are on the menu. We are interested in trying the ossobuco burger ($9) and perhaps a foie gras milkshake ($9) with its slightly gamey hint of foie gras butter on our next visit.